Who are Extinction Rebellion, where are they protesting across London and what are their climate change demands?

HUNDREDS of Extinction Rebellion demonstrators staged a “die-in” at London’s Natural History Museum as part of an ongoing protest across the capital.
Here, we look at the eco warriors’ demands, where they are demonstrating in the capital and what exactly they are protesting against.
PA:Press Association Actress Emma Thompson joins Extinction Rebellion demonstrators at Oxford Circus in London on April 19
Who are Extinction Rebellion and what are their climate change demands?
Extinction Rebellion describes itself as a non-violent direct action and civil disobedience group.
Eco warriors have demanded that the Government declares a climate emergency.
They want politicians to take urgent action on climate change and wildlife declines.
In particular, it wants the UK to reduce its carbon emissions to “zero by 2025” and do more to “remove the excess of atmospheric greenhouse gases”.
On Monday, April 15, the environment “rebels” launched a range of attention-grabbing tactics to gain headlines, and prompt politicians into taking action to “avoid irreversible climate change and ecological collapse”.
The activists have brought parts of busy London to a standstill with widespread demonstrations.
Organisers said on April 15: “The international rebellion begins and Extinction Rebellion will be bringing London to a standstill for up to two weeks.
“They will be blocking five of the city’s busiest and most iconic locations in a non-violent, peaceful act of rebellion where they invite people to join them for several days of creative, artist-led resistance.”
They’ve blocked routes around Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Parliament Square and Waterloo Bridge since Monday.
Where are Extinction Rebellion protesting across London?
Scores of protesters gathered outside Parliament to get their message across to politicians returning from their Easter break.
Extinction Rebellion members assembled in Parliament Square on Tuesday at around noon as influential 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg was meeting party leaders in the House of Commons.
On Monday hundreds of protesters staged a “die-in” at London’s Natural History Museum and held a party at Marble Arch.
They lay down underneath the famous blue whale skeleton in the middle of the museum.
Last week, Harry Potter star Emma Thompson, 60, joined demonstrators blocking Marble Arch, as eco warriors clock up their fifth day of protest.
She told Sky News that she was “proud and thrilled” to support the climate change activists on Good Friday.
Thompson yesterday blamed police for “wasting taxpayers’ money” by tackling the Extinction Rebellion protests which have caused misery for Londoners.
Earlier, Dame Emma defended her decision to fly 5,400 miles to join the Extinction Rebellion eco-warriors who massed in Central London on what was the fifth day of protests yesterday.
She jetted business-class from LA and arrived at Heathrow on Wednesday to add her to support to the climate-change demonstrations crippling the capital.
Thompson added: “I was not here on April 15 because I was with my husband – because I [turned] 60. I absolutely wanted to be arrested on my 60th birthday, but I haven’t quite managed that.
“I bet that will happen in future.”
A group of between 15 and 20 people, many of whom are aged under 17, also staged a climate change protest at Heathrow Airport.
They unfurled a banner reading “are we the last generation” on Friday morning.
Protesters stood by the tunnel that leads to Terminals 2 and 3 at the airport, but all roads around the roundabout remained open.
Extinction Rebellion said police had warned the youngsters at Heathrow that they could be arrested.
EPA A group of demonstrators have staged a climate change protest at Heathrow Airport
More than 500 protesters had been arrested by Thursday night as activists continued to ignore orders to leave roadblocks at Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Parliament Square.
A fuming Scotland Yard said in a statement: “The serious disruption the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations are causing to people in central London and beyond is unacceptable and we completely understand the concern it is causing to those who are disrupted by it.”
The force added that, on Thursday, April 18, it had “more than 1,000 officers on the streets policing the demonstrations.
“This is putting a strain on the Met and we have now asked officers on the boroughs to work 12-hour shifts.
“We have cancelled rest days and our Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) have had their leave cancelled.”
Scotland Yard said there are, “currently illegal protests at Waterloo Bridge, Oxford Circus and Parliament Square – all those locations have hundreds of protesters demonstrating.
“In addition, we have legal protests at Marble Arch, which is the designated place that anyone wanting to protest should attend.
“We also have a number of smaller groups carrying out ad hoc protests across central London, blocking roads and bridges for perhaps five or ten minutes at a time.
“There is a boat that we believe to be bolted to the ground in Oxford Circus and two large trucks that have been disabled and have protesters either on top or glued to.”
Extinction Rebellion have blocked bridges and busy thoroughfares at peak times, such as Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, along with gluing themselves to a DLR train and the entrance doors of Shell headquarters in the capital.
The demonstrations across Parliament Square, Marble Arch, Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus have already disrupted life for more than half a million people since they started on Monday, April 15.
And it has meant 55 bus routes had to close.
Four protesters glued and chained themselves under a lorry parked on Waterloo Bridge.
Extinction Rebellion supporters also parked a pink boat in the centre of Oxford Circus on Monday.
Dan Charity – The Sun On Thursday afternoon, April 18, they were pictured being removed by the police as crowds gather at Oxford Circus
On Tuesday, April 16, a pair of climate change protesters were camped out on a glass balcony above the entrance to Shell’s HQ in London.
Campaigners glued themselves to the entrance of the Shell building, and allegedly smashed glass in a bid to force the Government to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025.
On Wednesday, April 17, Transport for London (TfL) tweeted that “bus routes which usually serve central London are, again, diverted/curtailed due to an ongoing protest which is blocking several roads”.
They also glued themselves outside Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s house.
AFP or licensors A climate change activist in a hammock occupying Oxford Circus in the busy shopping district
Part of Oxford Street continued to be closed off to vehicles on Thursday, April 18, with the presence of the large pink boat – from which a DJ has been playing music to throngs of supporters – obstructing the main junction with Regent Street.
A mile west, a community of around 100 tents were put up at Marble Arch.
AP:Associated Press Protests have led to road closures, traffic gridlock and serious disruption to public transport
Reuters Far-left mob Extinction Rebellion plan to bring London to its knees
On Monday, the Met Police imposed a condition under the Public Order Act restricting their protests to Marble Arch for 24 hours, from 6.55pm.
This condition has since been extended for a further three days, and expires at 9.10pm on Friday, April 19.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has urged police to use the “full force of the law” to deal with illegal XR demonstrations as they enter a fifth day.
SWNS:South West News Service Police have had to arrest hundreds of the protesters
Have there been any arrests?
The BBC says that, controversially, the group is “trying to get as many people arrested as possible”.
By Good Friday, April 19, the fifth day of disruption, the police had made more than 500 arrests.
Extinction Rebellion’s actions have prompted criticism, with people slamming its supporters for being a huge drain upon police time, disrupting public transport, preventing commuters from getting to and from work – not to mention impacting upon businesses and retailers.
The New West End Company said that after days of “gridlock, businesses have been deeply concerned by the additional pressures” brought upon businesses and retailers in the West End.
A spokesperson said: “We have called on the Mayor and the Met Police to take control and enable companies and their employees to get back to business as usual ahead of the bank holiday weekend.”
Three members of the group denied obstructing a railway by gluing themselves to trains during the protests.
Two men and a woman appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court on May 16 and were bailed ahead of trial.
Cathy Eastburn, 51, of Lambeth, south London, Mark Ovland, 35, of Somerton, Somerset, and Luke Watson, 29, of Manuden in Essex, were charged after the DLR protest.
A date is yet to be set.
What was the criticism aimed at police?
Met Police Commander Jane Connors said she was “disappointed” by a video appearing to show officers dancing with protesters.
Cops were caught on camera raving and skateboarding with Extinction Rebellion protesters.
She said: “I’m disappointed by the video and the unacceptable behaviour of the officers in it.
“We expect our officers to engage with protesters but clearly their actions fall short of the tone of the policing operation at a time when people are frustrated at the actions of the protesters.
“We will be reminding officers of their responsibilities and expectations in policing this operation – however the majority of officers have been working long hours and I am grateful to them for their continued commitment.”
Scotland Yard said enquiries are being made to identify the police officers involved.
Extinction Rebellion MPs were seen taking a glance up at the protest and Speaker John Bercow said the Brexit debate should continue
Why did activists protest naked in the House of Commons during a Brexit debate?
On April 1, 2019, 11 eco warriors stripped down to their underpants in the House of Commons public gallery while MPs were debating Brexit alternatives on the floor of the Chamber below.
Some had slogans including “SOS” and “stop wasting time” written on their semi-naked bodies.
They pressed themselves up against the glass screen of a public gallery overlooking the Chamber.
Extinction Rebellion said the protest was an attempt “to draw politicians’ attention to the climate and ecological crisis”.
Speaker of the House, John Bercow, told politicians to “proceed” despite the disturbance.
PA:Press Association Naked truth? Above, the moment climate change activists stripped down to their underwear in the House of Commons’ public gallery on April 1
The activists’ high-profile protest prompted Peter Kyle, MP for Hove, to refer to “the bottom line”, the “naked truth” and “cheeky intervention” as he continued speaking about the Brexit “impasse”.
Nick Boles (Grantham and Stamford), meanwhile, pointed out there were “noted naturists on these Benches.
BBC Reaction: Former Labour leader Ed Miliband got an eyeful during the protest
“It has long been a thoroughly British trait to be able to ignore pointless nakedness, and I trust that the House will now be able to return to the issue we are discussing.”
Scotland Yard said officers were sent in during an attempt to “negotiate” with the activists.
ExclusiveNOT SO GREEN Sadiq Khan ‘a hypocrite’ after racking up enough air miles to reach the MOON JET SET ECO EM Emma Thompson takes gas-guzzling flight after joining Extinction Rebellion ExclusiveSTIR-VANA Prison guide for eco-warriors says do yoga in cells to ‘structure the space’ ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ Michael Gove slammed for agreeing to meet Extinction Rebellion for talks BANK ON IT New ‘Banksy’ graffiti supporting eco-warrior activists pops up as protests end ExclusiveBUNCH OF HYPOCRITES Eco-warriors slammed for ordering roses jetted 5k miles from Colombia
Nuala Gathercole-Lam, an Extinction Rebellion member from Haringey in north London, later told the Press Association: “It’s a crazy thing to do but the situation is crazy – there is no Brexit on a dead planet.”
The incident lasted around 25 minutes, as some protesters had glued their hands to the glass.
They had to be physically removed by police, who later said 12 people had been arrested for “outraging public decency”.